How the first video game by a pinball coder and a high school kid blew away the gaming world in 1980. We’ll tell all including game design, enemy dynamics, hardware, software, sounds, and special effects (actual code will be revealed!). We will examine emergent behavior in the AI of Defender enemies, and how expert players exploit the classic Defender game play features (AKA Bugs!). And why is it that real innovation is always about small teams and rarely emerges from the bloated corpocracies.

When participating in the California Extreme Coin-Operated Video Game High Score Competition (Defender) activities, services or equipment I agree to the following:

The Rules:

1. The California Extreme Defender high score competition is a one day contest which will begin approximately at 12:00 pm on July 12, 2014 at the Santa Clara Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara, CA. and will end at approximately at 5:00 pm on the same day, July 12, 2014. All high score competition game play must be completed by 5:00 pm.

All prizes must be picked up immediately after the contest is over.

2. All competing video game players must read and sign the rule sheet and release any liability from Paul Dean and Richie Knucklez, as well as pay the $10.00 contest fee in order to play in the (Defender) High Score Contest. You can pay an additional $1.00 per play to improve your score.

3. Defender will be set at Extremely Hard Settings on screen option #10, 1 Life to start, No Extra Lives to allow for competition play. You may play two games per $10.00 entry, and unlimited buy-ins at one game for a $1.00 is permitted as many times as you want to buy in within the contest time frame with referee present. There will be blocks of time when the games will “not” be available for play such as during the tips and tricks seminar etc., and other time frames for referee meal breaks, etc.

4. After you complete the game you must call the referee over before you enter your initials so the referee can confirm your score. This score will be compared to other scores. Only the top score of each player will count and only the top 8 scores in the competition will be recorded.

5. If another player is waiting to play the game you are playing you must let them play after your game is over and wait your turn until the game opens up again. (THERE IS A $10.00 CASH ONLY IN ADVANCE HIGH SCORE CONTEST FEE – NO REFUNDS AT ANY TIME)

6. No player may disturb another player when they are playing or disrupt the high score competition. If this occurs it may be deemed by the referee that the player will forfeit their chance to participate in the competition and will lose their entry fees.

7. All of the referee’s and judges decisions are final and the player will abide by these decisions.

8. The basic rules of play will follow the Twin Galaxies guidelines however this is not a Twin Galaxies High Score Contest and there is no affiliation to Twin Galaxies.
“No blatant leeching”

9. If there is a tie on a game there will be a high score playoff to break the tie.

10. Only a players highest score will be considered for the high score competition.

11. The referee may pull one or more of the games in the competition at any time without prior warning without any notice or refunds of prizes if that happens to occur. One example would be a motherboard that will not boot properly.

12. If you have any questions or concerns about the competition please ask for clarification “before” you begin or find a referee to explain the ruling to you when a problem occurs.

13. The player will not hold liable the negligence of any participants or negligence of others involved in the contest for accidents, breaches of contract or other forces of this July 12, 2014 Paul Dean / Richie Knucklez Defender Extreme Settings Competition.

14. Your full name and signature are required.

15. All high scores and related press releases as well as photographs of individuals in this event or in the proximity of this event can be used by the sponsors of this event without compensation by the individual who’s name or photo may be used to promote this event now or in the future.

Sponsors Paul Dean and (RK) Richie Knucklez are not eligible for any of the high score prizes.

All monies raised after paying expenses for the contest will be donated to Dave Danzara to help promote his documentary “No Princess In The Castle” by Dave Danzara

Total Cash Monies Payout for this 2014 high score event: $100.00

Eric’s feedback on event:

Had a great time. Huge thank you to Paul Dean and Ritchie for setting up all things Eugene Jarvis today and for a great Defender contest. For a quick recap, the Defender gods were with me this day and my first game was 51,000, next was 47,000 (extreme 99-20K settings) and the score stood. I got a nice new signed Defender plaque and some loot! Along with posters, Defender parts and a box of Billy Mitchell Hot sauces.